Introduction:

A. We have the power of choice.

B. If God had made us without this power we would be mere machines, only robots.

C. Every day there are a host of decisions to be made.

D. Joshua told the Israelites to choose.

E. Moses chose:

     Heb. 11:24, “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt:  for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.”

 F. There are some things that we do not have a chose in the matter.

     1. Choice has its limitations.

     2. For example.

         a. We did not choose our parents.

         b. The country in which we were born.

         c. Also, our race.

G. Today, we want to take note of some things that are impossible to choose.

Body:

I. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO CHOOSE NOT TO BE BORN.

   A. Many times we hear or maybe have felt like saying, “I wish I had never been born!”

   B. Job wished this when he was overwhelmed with suffering.

        (Job 3:1-16, refer to)

   C. However, all of us were born, we live, and we are responsible.

II. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CHOOSE A COURSE OF NEUTRALITY!

    A. This is certainly true concerning Jesus Christ!

         1. Many decide not to make a decision.

             Matt. 12:30, “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.”

         2. A classic example of this is Pilate.

             (Matt. 27:11-25, refer to)

     B. Concerning evil and sin:

          Eph. 5:11, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

            Rom. 12:9 “Let love be without dissimulation.  Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”

       C. There is a difference between good and evil.

             Isa. 5:20, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

b. No person can stand on the middle ground (take the middle of the road).       

III. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CHOOSE THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR CHOSES.

    A. Consider some physical laws.

         1. The Law of Gravity is fixed and unalterable.

         2. It cannot be broken.

         3. You jump from an airplane without a parachute you fall. One might   regret his choice in mid-air but you still have to pay the consequences.

     B. The same principle operates in the spiritual realm.

          1. We can choose to disobey God, but not the consequences of doing so.

          2. Gal. 6:7-8, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked:  for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

      C. Consider some Biblical examples:

           1. Adam and Eve.

               a. They could obey or disobey.

               b. They made their choice and had to pay the price.

           2. Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire.

                Lev. 10:1-2, “And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not.  And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.”

               a. They were free to choose their actions, but were powerless to change the results or consequences of that action.

       D. What about our choices?

             1. We can drink or not drink.

             2. Curse or not curse.

             3. Live an immoral life or not.

IV. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CHOOSE OUR OWN REMEDY FOR SIN.

    A. Many think they can live a good moral life and save themselves.

    B. The Bible tells about the remedy for sin.

               Matt. 26:28, “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

 

Rev. 1:5, “…Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his   own blood.

         Eph. 1:7, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the    forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

               

V. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CHOOSE OUR OWN TERMS OF PARDON.

      A. No criminal is permitted to set his own terms of pardon.

      B. Naaman, the leper, could not even choose the river to dip in.  God specified the Jordan for that purpose.

            2 Kings 5:10, “And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.”

            1. He had to dip 7 times, not 6, in order to be cleansed of his leprosy. 

      C. Salvation is conditional!

Heb. 5:8-9, “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the       things which he suffered

                  Lk. 6:46, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

       D. We must:

Believe- Jn. 8:24, “…if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”

Repent- Lk. 13:3, “I tell you, Nay:  but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

Confess- Matt. 10:32-33, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”

Be Baptized- Mk. 16:16, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

VI. WE CANNOT CHOOSE OUR OWN “TYPE” OF BAPTISM.

        A. Many claim that sprinkling or pouring is just as acceptable as immersion.

        B. The word “Baptism” means to dip, submerge, and to immerse.

Col. 2:12, “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”

 Rom. 6:3-4, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:  that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

VII. WE CANNOT CHOOSE TO ESCAPE DEATH!

      Heb. 9:27, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

VIII. WE CANNOT CHOOSE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL LIVE ETERNALLY.

      A. Some wish that their existence would end at the grave.

       B. By our actions, we choose to live eternally in Heaven or in Hell.

Conclusion:

YOU must decide now!

I Cor. 6:2, “…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

 

Prov. 27:1, “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”

Borrowed and revised

--Dub Mowery